Cartridge Rolling
How to roll 18th Century style cartridges
Pickering's cartridge paper pattern
Timothy Pickering offers dimensions for a former: "... side a - b measures about six inches, b - c about five inches and a half, and c - d about two inches." Pickering, Timothy, An Easy Plan of Discipline for a Militia, Second Edition, Boston, 1776, part I, page 3.
Materials Needed:
• Proper size cartridge paper.
• Former (made from 5/8 inch dowel, 6 inches long)
• Glue or glue stick.
• 3F black powder.
• Powder measure, funnel, etc. ( I also use a dollar store sauce bottle to fill powder)
Cut ( I tear) 8.5 x 11 paper in half- I find news print works best. Do not use copier paper; it has ceramic in it. I get kids doodle paper at the dollar store or use old newspapers.
Lay the former on paper with the 6” side facing you ( side “b-c” fig 2). Glue should be put on a slanted edge (at point “a”) and use the rounded end of the forming tube for blank cartridges. The forming tube should be about an inch from the side. Should be the approximate diameter of the forming tube. Roll paper around the forming tube starting with the straight edge of the paper.
Roll the paper on the forming tool to create a tube ( fig 3)
Twist the one inch end on the forming tube very tight ( I use a ⅝” pipe as my former and I push the twist in the end to make sure powder will not come out. ( fig 5, 5a and 6)
Remove the forming tube. ( fig 7)
Load open end with desired charge of black powder only. 100 grains FFFG maximum load.
Flatten the top portion of paper and fold over at a 90 degree angle, forming a fold over the powder.
Fold both edges of the "tail" toward the center.
Bring the tail toward the front and fold alongside powder charge. Glue this tail down to the cartridge ( fig 8)